Food Preparation Worker Salary in Bangor, ME
Food Preparation Workers in the Bangor, ME metro area earn a median $34,970 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,042 take-home, or $2,420 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Bangor, ME. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,016
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,168
- Medicare (1.45%)$507
- Maine income tax$1,237
- Take-home pay$29,042
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.80% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Bangor, ME
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,900 | $14.86 | $26,008 | $2,167 |
| 25th percentile | $33,600 | $16.15 | $28,021 | $2,335 |
| Median (50th) | $34,970 | $16.81 | $29,042 | $2,420 |
| 75th percentile | $37,120 | $17.85 | $30,645 | $2,554 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,340 | $21.32 | $35,996 | $3,000 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Maine resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,970 buys in Bangor, ME
Prices in Bangor, ME are 3.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 22% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $29,042 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,093 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Bangor, ME as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.08).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Bangor, ME ranks #94 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 94 | Bangor, ME | $34,970 | $29,042 | $30,093 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Maine
- Portland, ME — $37,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Bangor, ME?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Bangor, ME metro area is $34,970 a year, or about $16.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,600 and $37,120.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Bangor, ME?
On the median $34,970 salary, a single filer living in Maine takes home about $29,042 a year ($2,420 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,237 in Maine taxes in 2026.
Is Bangor, ME a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,093 would in a typical U.S. city. Bangor, ME ranks #94 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Bangor, ME?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Bangor, ME is $1,218 a month ($1,559 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Bangor, ME
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,130
- Waiter and Waitress — $45,610
- Cooks, Restaurant — $40,760
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,140